Ritual Revival in China

Not sure how we missed this story (c/o China Daily). I’d be interested in your comments, or if anyone has/had involvement with the event or organization, please chime in with your perspective on the revival project.

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Scholars call for revival of Chinese ritual

(China.org.cn)

Scholars call for revival of Chinese ritual

The opening ceremony of the First International Symposium on Ritual Studies at Tsinghua University, Apr. 9, 2012. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Scholars call for revival of Chinese ritual

Group photo of the scholars participating in the First International Symposium on Ritual Studies, Apr. 9, 2012. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Scholars call for revival of Chinese ritual

Robert Chard, professor of sinology at St. Anne’s College, University of Oxford. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Traditional Chinese rituals are seen as being synonymous with Confucianism; however they have been marginalized over the course of the last century due to the influx of Western influences in Chinese society.

The ensuing homogeny, which has seen city skylines the world over adopt the same high-rise appearance, and culture and tradition diluted by modern commercial interests, has left many Chinese people struggling to define what makes their culture distinctive.

All of this has led a group of eminent scholars to establish a center dedicated to the preservation and revival of Chinese rituals.

Last Saturday saw the scholars formally set up the Research Center of Chinese Ritual at Tsinghua University, one of Chinese leading universities, known for its rationalism and scientific excellence. The inauguration of the center ushered in three-days of panel discussion forums for the First International Symposium on Ritual Studies.

Read the rest here at China Daily’s news site.

5 replies on “Ritual Revival in China”

  1. This seems like a convergence of several trends: academic emphases on “Guoxue (National studies)” and “Jingxue (Studies of Classics)”; enthusiasm for “Chinese culture” by the Party; and interest in traditional culture and the revival of rituals by some in civil society. A brief look on the internet only led me to a mention of the titles of some of the keynote speeches, which sound like standard academic papers on ancient ritual texts; see .

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